Dry-pipe valve.



No. 831,054. PATENTBD SEPT. 18, 1906.

0. B. GARRETT. ,DRY PIPE VALVE.

APPLIOATION TILED 0013.1903,

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N0- 831,054 PATENTED SEPT. 18', 1906.

G. B. GARRETT. DRY PIPE VALVE}- APPLICATION FILED 0013.8, 1903.

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Y is a horizontal section on the line 9:

pressure. The valve-seat 3, WlllC .in an inclined upper'wall 1 UNITED STATES CHARLES GARRETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS,

DIRECT AND. MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A (JO-RPO'.

SPRINKLER COM PAN Y, RATI ON OF MINNESOTA.

PATENT OFFICE.

THE GLOBE AUTOMATIC DRY-PIPE VALVE.

No. 831,054. Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

.To (1.7] 114mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. GARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry-Pipe Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for especial object to provide. an improved dry pipe valve for use in connection with so-callcd dry-. and to this;

pipe tire-extinguishing systems end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described,

and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated-in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section taken centrally through a dry-pipe valve embodying the several features of my invention. Fig. 2 2: of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower portion of the valve mechanism, all that'part above the line .12 m of Fig. 1 being removed. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the so-ca'lled secondary or air valve, and Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 90 m of Fig. 4.

Like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The body 1 of the valve case or shell is pro.- vided with three valve-seatequipped 0 enings 2, 3, and 4. The valve-seat 2, w ich constitutes a water-inlet passage, islocated in the bottom of the caseor shell 1 andis in communication with a branch 5 of the streetmain, or other sourceof water-sup 1y under li affords the Water outlet from the casing 1, is located of said casing andopens into the main riser 6, the lower portion of which is expanded and is detachably secured to the casing 1 by a water-tight joint, as shown, extending on the line x m of Fig. 1. The valve-seat 4 is located in one side of the casing 1 and serves a purpose which will hereinafter appear.. The valveseats 2, 3, and 4 are adapted to be closed by valves which maybe treated, respectively, as the primary or water-inlet valve, the secformed in said valve 12.

- nates at such pointthat it will ondary or air-seated valve, and the intermediate or vent-closing valve. I 1

The primary valve 7 is carried by an arm 8, fulcrumed to a bearingt), rigidly secured. to and within the casing 1, adjacent to the valveseat 2. Advisably, the valve 7 is provided with a nutted stem 10, that works loosely through the arm 8, and the arm 8 is provided with a plurality (as shown four) of set-screws 11, that press upon the valve 7 and hold the same firmly seated on the valve-seat 2, when the free end of the arm8 is pressed downward.

The secondary valve ;12 is carried by and has aslight pivotal movement on an arm 13. z pivoted" to the bearing 14, rigidly secured on top of the casing 1 in such position that said valve 12-will'normally rest upon the valveseatrS. On its under face the valve 12 is providedwith a sl-idable cam-block 15, the base of which, as shown, works in a groove 16, The cam-block 15 has a threaded stem 17 that works loosely through a pair of lugs 18 on the said valve 12, and a thumb-nut 19 works on said stem 17 between said lugs 18, to adjustsaid camblock 15 and hold the same in any desired set position.

A tripping-lever 20 is pivoted at its lower end to a bearing-bracket 21, secured to and within the casing 1, at theright-hand side of the primary valve 7 as viewed in Fig. 1. The free upper end of this tripping-arm 20 termiengage the cam block 15 ofthe secondary or air valve 12, when said valve is in a closed position. The tripping-arm 20 is further provided with a presser-heel 22, (as shown cast integral therewith,) that normally resses upon the free end' of the arm 8 and holds the primary valve 7 closed. Furthermore, this trippin -arm 20 carries the so called ventclosing valve 23, which v'alve,.as shown, is pivoted thereto and is attached to one end' of a chain 24. The chain 24 passes the air-vent afforded by the valve-seat 4,

MINNESOTA, A'ssIoNoR, BY

mterme iate or runs over a sheave 25, mounted on the bracket 26 on the exterior of the casing 1, and is provided at its de ending end with a headed rod 27. A plura ity of weights 28, placed on the headed rod 27, puts the tripping-zirm 20 under a strain which tends to open the secacting through the 29 in thes de-of the casing "hated by dotted lines 30 acts upon the'eircuit-closer 31, which coondaryor air-seated valve 12, and to close the intermediate or vent valve 23, all as will hereinafter more fully be described.

Working through a suitable stuffing-box ing plunger. 30, the inner end of which stands 1n" position tobe engaged by theiree end of the tripping-arm 20 when the latter is moved into a position to force the intermediate valve 23 against its. valve-seat 4, as indiin Fig. 1. The plunger operates with contacts 32 of an annunciatoractuating, circuit- 33, which circuit further includes a battery 35 and an electric bell 33 The numeral 34 indicates a valved drainpipe for draining the system after operation and as reliminary to setting the valve mechanism or-action, and the numeral 35 indicates it'vailved liming-pipe which opens into the @irpande' loweeWortion of the main riser 6.

Operatic-Iii 1th the parts set in normal position, asindicat'ed by full lines in Fig. 1, it evident that when the air-pressure 1n the riser?) is sufiiciently'reduced the weights 28, 'hai 24 on the trippinglever20, open'the secondary valve 12 and seat or vent-4, thereb closing the latter, and that suohtactions wil take place independent of any action of the primary valve. Otherwisestated, the said secondary valve will be opened and the vent will be closed, even 'thou'h the water-pressure should be cut oiffrom the branch 5 of the water1nain, in which case, of course, the primary valve 7' not being subject to water-pressure would remainv closed. Furthermore, the abovenotediop'erative movement of the tripping lever yn-nder the action of the weights 28 will force outward the lunger and cause the circuit-closer 31 to c lose the annunciator circuit, and thus give noticethat the drypipe has been th'rown'into action by the reduction of the air-pressurein the main riser 6, due to the rupturing of one or more of the sprinkler-heads, The tripping-lever 20 must move inorder to actuate the alarm, and it must also move to. close the vent opening 4.- .In movingto close the vent the tripping-arm will open or unseat the secondary valve 12, while the vent 4 is still open. It is desirable to have the vent open at the time the secondary valve'is open in order to relieve the latter from suction or back pressure. Furthermore, it is desirable to open the secondary valve and close the vent,-even though there should be no pressure on the primary or water-supply valve 7, as this sets the mechanism for action whenever such pressure is applied to the said primary valve, and, in fact, sets the mechanism of the dry pipe valve so that water might be supplied to the casing 1 by means independent of the waters pp y P pe 1 is a circu1t-closdesired pressure within certain limits. force the vent-valve 23 against the valve-' In the present design the proportions of the primary and secondary valves are such as to produce a tripping of the valves at about ten pounds of air when the waterpressure in the pipe one hundred pounds per square inch, the said relations, therefore, being about ten to one.

The weights 28 preferably are such that independent of the influence of the waterpressure on the primary valve 7 they will open the secondary valve 12 and close the vent 23 at from three to five pounds of airpressure in the riser 6. Thus the trippingpoint will be further raised, say, one pound more, but varying according to the tension put upon the tripping-lever undcr difi'erent adjustments of the cam-block 15. This will set the valve mechanism for tripping at a point between fourteen to eighteen pounds of air-pressure when the water-pressure is at one hundred pounds. By bringing the weights 28 or other device used for putting the tripping-lever under strain to the exterior of the casing convenient access thereto is had, so that the valve mechanism may at will be adjusted to trip into action at any feature is therefore important.

By locating the face of the valve-seat 3 at an oblique ang.e to the periphery of the valve-seat 2 and by pivoting the trippinglever at one side of said valve-seat 2 the free end of said tripping-lever is arranged to act on the cam-block 15 in a direction approximately tangcntial to the face of the secondary valve 12 and causing the free end of said lever to act upon the cam-block 1,5 with a sweeping action quickly opens the said valve.

To afford access to the interior of the casing 1 for the purpose of resetting the valve and the tripping-levr r, said casing is shownas provided with a detachable plate 36.

By adjusting the cam-block 15 on the secondary valve 12 the valve-closing strain on the tripping-lever 20 may be varied to some extent, and by adjustments of the sttscrews 1 1 of the valve-arm S the said trippinglever may be set so that its free end will fall within the range of adjustment of the said cam-block.

To reset the valve mechanism after it has been thrown into action or when it is firstinstalled, the water is drawn oii vfrom "the system by opening the valve in the drain-pipe 34, and the said drain-valve is then closed. Then the plate 36 is removed to aiiord access to the interior of the casing 1. Next -the primary valve is turned down into a closed position and then the Weights 28 being removed from the rod 27 the trippinglever 20 is turned to its normal position. Next the secondary valve 12 is turned downward into a closed position and the annunciator-actuating plunger 30 is pressed in- 5 is at approximately This I ever the connecting said three valves, but simultaneous actions of two of said valves,-

valve.-

ward. Then after priming the chamber of the main riser just above the secondary valve the air is turned on through the said main riser and the secondary valve will then of course be held seated. 'After this has been done the weights 28 are again applied to the rod'27 and the valve mechanism is thenagain setfor automatic action whenpredetermined pressure ofair in the riser 6 takes lace.

. From the oregoing description and statements made it will of course be understood that the valve mechanism described is capable'of many modifications as to details of construction within the sco e of my invention as herein set forth and c laimed. v

, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows: 'In' a dry-pipe valve, a' casin or shell forming partoi the conduit of .a e-extinguishing system and having three 0 enings, ee valves operating to open and clbs'e said three openings, and mechanism operatively permitting said third independent of the action of the 2. In a dry-pi pe valve, a casinguor shell forming a part 0 the conduit of a e-extinguishing system, and'having three 0 enings, three valves operating to open and c ose said three openings, mechanism within said casing,'operatively connecting said three valves, but permitting simultaneous action of two of sa d valves independent of any action of the third valve, and means exteriorly accessible for regulating the pressure under which certain .ofsaid valves will be normallyseated,

as described.

Ina dry-pipe valve, the combination with a casing forming a part of the conduit of a fire-extigulshing system and having a water-inlet, a water outlet, and an air-vent, of a primary valve normally closingsaid watermlet, a secondar air-seated valve normally closing said outlet, a third valve cooperating with' said air-vent, and mechanism operatively connecting said three valves, and operatin to simultaneously open said secondary vave and close said air-vent valve, independent of the action of said primary valve.

A. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination with a casing forming a part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing system and having three openings, of three valves, two of which normally close two of said openings and the other valve being movable to close the one of and outlet, respectively,

water-outlet and an air-vent, primary and secondary valves normally closing said inlet a third valve which normally opens but is movable to close said air-vent, and means operatively connecting said three valves and operating to open said secondary valve and close said independent of the action of said primary valve. I

6. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination with a primary valve normally holding back thewater-supply, of a secondary air-seated valve normally closing the water-outlet, an air-vent in said casing an oscillating trippinglever for opening said secondary valve and for normally holding said primary valve closed, and a vent closing valve carried by said tripping-lever, the movement of which trippingever serves to open said secondary valve and close said vent-valve, independent of the action of said primary valve.

7. The combination with a casing forming part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing system, said casing having an inlet and an outlet and an air-vent, of primary and secondary valves normally closin said inlet and outlet, respective] a normally open ventclosing .valve having a pressure-actuated connection extending'throug'h said air-vent, to the exterior of said casing, and valve-actuatmg mechanism connecting said three valves:

and o crating to open sald secondary valve and clbse said air-vent valve, independent of the action of said primary valve.

8.. The combination with a casing forming part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing system, said casing having a valved waterinlet, a valvedwater-outlet and an air-vent, of a tripping-lever valve, and normally holding said inlet-valve closed, of a third valve independent of the other two valves carried by said trippingvent-valve,-

for opening the outletlever and adapted to be moved to close said air-vent, under that movement of said trippinglever which opens said outlet-valve, and means for producing such movement of said tripping-lever, involving a connection extended through said airvent to the exterior of said casing.

9. The combination with a casing forming part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing system, and having a water-inlet, a wateroutlet and an air-vent, of an inlet-valve and outlet-valve normally closing said inlet and outlet respective] an air chamber into which said secondary valve opens, and whereby it is air-seated, a tripping-lever for opening said outlet-valve and normally holding said inlet-valve closed, and a third valve independent of said other two valves, carried by said tripping-lever and adapted to be moved to close said air-vent, under that movement of said tripping-lever which opens said secondary valve, substantially as de scribed.

, said primary valve.

an air-vent leading to the atmosphere, of a 1 10. The combination with a casing forrning part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing system, said casinghaving a water-inlet, a water-outlet leading to an air-chamber, and

closing said inlet and primary valve normally ly, an alr-seated 1 holding back the water-sup secondary valve normally 0 osing said water outlet, a normally open third valve for closing said air-vent, and mechanism operatively connecting said three valves, but causing said secondary valve to open, and said ventl valve to close, independentof the action of 11. The combmationwith a casing forniing part of the conduit of a fire-extingu-ishingsystem, said casing having a water-inlet, a Water-outlet and an air-vent, of primary and secondary valves normally closing said inlet and outlet, respectively, a normally open vent-closing valve, an adjustable weight attached to said vent-valve by a connection passed through said air-vent, and v'alve-' actuating mechanism connecting said three valves, and operating under the action of said weight, to open said secondary valve and l close said vent-valve, independent of the action of said primary valve.

. system,

. ,holdi'ngsaid primary valve weight will open said close said vent-valve, independent of the acl2. The combination with a casing form; ing part of the conduit of a fire-extinguishing 1 said casing having a water-inlet, a water-outlet, and ,an air-vent, primary and secondary valves normally closing said inlet and outlet, respectively, a tripping-lever for l opening said secondary valve and normally closed, a vent-W by said tnppmg-lever,

closing valve carried and a connection from said tripping-leverl extended outward through said vent and pro- 1 yided with a Weight, the strain of which! secondary valve and tion of said primary valve.

13. The combination with a casing forming part ofthe conduit of a fire-extinguishing system and having a water-inlet and a wa- 1 on said secondary ter-outlet, of primary and secondary valves normally closin said inlet and outlets, respectively, an a justable cam-block Ii1ounte( valve, a tripping-lever ens gageable with said cam-block, to open said secondary valve, and operating to. normally hold said primary valve closed, and ineans putting said tripping-lever under strain to open said secondary valve and-release said primary valve.

4 14. The combination with a casing forming part of the conduit of 'a fire-extinguishing system, said casing having ayvater-inletaud a water-outlet, of primary and secondary valves. normally closing said inlet and outlet", respectively, an arm carryingsaid primary valve and adjustably connected therewith. an adjustable cam-rod on said secondary valve, and a tripping-lever acting on said cam-block to open saidsecondary valve and acting on the adjustable lever of'said primary valve, to hold said primary valve closed, the said tripping-lever being normally un'der strain tending to open said secondary valve. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. 'G lRRETT' .VVitnesses: I v

E. H. KEl.lIlE R,; F. D. MERCHANT.

having water inlet and,

planes diverging at- 

